Dale Gavlak

Dale Gavlak is a Middle East correspondent for Mint Press News. Gavlak has been stationed in Cairo, Egypt Amman, Jordan for over two decades. An expert in Middle Eastern Affairs, Gavlak currently covers the Levant region of the Middle East from Amman for Associated Press (AP), National Public Radio (NPR) and Mint Press News writing in various topics including politics, social issues and economic trends. Dale holds a M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Chicago. Contact Dale at dgavlak@mintpressnews.com

Amman, Jordan -- Monday, the Syrian government gave the green light to U.N. inspectors to investigate the site of last week’s deadly chemical attack, which reportedly claimed the lives of hundreds in several suburbs east of Damascus. As suspicions mount over who carried out the attack, the U.N. team came under sniper fire on their way

Observers tuning-in to the sectarian narrative in today’s Middle East may find it jarring to see realignments by some of the region’s players as violent crisis engulfs Egypt. For those who have watched the oftentimes dissonant regional politics unfold over the years, such repositioning will seem less surprising.

While fighting has intensified recently between Syrian government troops and rebels throughout the country, the most significant development to date are attacks by mainly al-Qaida-linked fighters striking at the heartland of President Bashar Assad’s government and his Alawite base of support in Latakia province.

Despite some rare military gains by Syria’s fractious rebel forces in recent days, analysts say the road ahead for the opposition seeking to overthrow President Bashar Assad is not promising. Without serious weaponry and backing from the West, they believe, the rebels will not be able to oust the entrenched Syrian leader. But they add

As Egypt’s turmoil deepens, analysts believe the embattled Muslim Brotherhood is committing political suicide by continuing street protests in an attempt to reinstate deposed President Mohamed Morsi. They say the Islamist group’s struggle portends a painful return to its all-too familiar role as opposition.

After initial calls by Egypt’s military-backed interim government for the Muslim Brotherhood to join the political process, prospects for reconciliation have further dimmed as the country’s new leaders issued arrest warrants, froze assets and detained Brotherhood members for criminal investigation.